When to Call

Before labor starts

For Doula Clients:

Please check in with me via text, phone call, or email after every prenatal appointment and let me know how it went. I am also happy to answer non-urgent questions during daytime hours throughout our contract, and urgent questions at all hours.

For Photography CLients:

Remember, you are required to let me know if your birth is scheduled (an induction or Cesarean) so I can plan accordingly.

If you experience signs that labor may be imminent:

Give me a heads up. This gives me a chance to make any last minute preparations for myself and my family. Signs that labor may be near include loose bowels, contractions, bloody show or mucous plug.

I come to you when:

·You ask me to come. I can give you all sorts of guidelines (active labor, etc.), but bottom line? I come when you tell me to come. If you’re not sure, call and we’ll see how you’re doing.

·You are in active labor. Generally, this means your contractions are close to a minute long, are coming at regular intervals of 5-7 minutes or more often, and are intense enough that you cannot walk or talk through them.

·Your contractions are getting intense and you need additional support to get through them, regardless of pattern. I come whenever you decide you need extra support.

·You are ready to go to the hospital. Call me and I will meet you there.

·If I come and your contractions slow down or stop, or we determine that you are still in early labor, I may decide to go home to ensure that I am fully rested and prepared to provide high quality support when things get intense.

During the day (7 AM to 10 PM)

Give me a heads up by phone or text when you experience signs of labor, no matter how early.

CALL me at (208) 484-2276 when you think you might be ready for me to come. Don’t worry about calling too early; we can assess how you’re doing and decide. If I don’t answer, call again in five minutes. If I still don’t answer, and you need support, call my back up:

Name _____________________________________________________

Phone Number ______________________________________________

At night (10 PM to 7 AM)

If you’re experiencing signs of labor at night, try drinking a large glass of water, taking a warm bath, and trying to sleep. If it’s before 10 PM, give me a heads up text or call. After 10 PM, try to call only when you need support. If you’re ready for support, text once. If I don’t respond within five minutes, call me. If I don’t respond within five minutes, call again. If I don’t respond, call the back-up doula listed above.

If you are ready for me to come and I haven’t responded to a text, you must CALL ME. If I don’t answer, call again in a few minutes.

Lemon Tree Birth

Welcome to Lemon Tree Birth, providing birth doula services to the Yuma, Arizona area. As a doula, I am committed to supporting families through pregnancy, birth and the postpartum period. I provide families with evidence-based information and support their choices. My goal is to support your family through this miraculous transition.

These women, myself included, feel that placenta encapsulation made a difference for them in their postpartum recovery. Until science can actually dispute that with something more than conjecture, I'm going to keep doing what I do best, which is listen to women, validate their experience, and support their choices.